'antiparliamentary' originates from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti') combined with the adjective 'parliamentary', where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'parliamentary' traces to Old French 'parlement' related to 'parler' meaning 'to speak'.

'parliament' changed from the Old French word 'parlement' and entered Middle English as 'parliament'; the adjective 'parliamentary' developed from that, and the modern compound 'antiparliamentary' was formed by adding the prefix 'anti-' to 'parliamentary'.

Initially it meant 'against the idea or institution of a parliament'; over time it has retained this basic meaning and is used to describe opposition to parliamentary systems or procedures.